Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Testimonials Time!

When a book is close to being published, I’ve asked in the past if you would share any testimonials with me, with the possibility of them being quoted within the book itself, or on the back cover.

This is your chance to participate!

We certainly can’t post them all ---and what you post here will be turned over to my editor for their choice in quotes and placement.

Our next book is also on the subject of Leaders & Enders. If you are a Leader & Ender convert – if it has changed the way you sew, if it has made a difference in your quilting drive and productivity, would you like to share a few words below?

Your full name will not be given, but your first name and first initial of your last name is what we need, along with your city and state (and country if applicable!)

As they say --- The Pen is Mightier than the Sword – let your thoughts be heard!

I love the Leader Ender system along with Bonnie's scrap user system. My productivity has increased immensely. I was able to donate nine quilts to local charities as well as giving two for gifts and finishing two for myself.

Not only am I getting more projects done with leaders and enders but I find that I don't have all those messy thread all over the floor around my sewing machine which means that I am using more of the thread to actually sew!

WARNING! Using leaders and enders is SO addictive that the leader/ender project often gets full attention over other projects because it is becoming so gorgeous and F-U-N! Soon you find yourself planning/cutting and sewing leaders and enders with ALL you do!

Leaders and Enders not only save thread, but keeps the mind going by working on more than one project at a time. Bonnie shares all kinds of saving techniques, but L&E has revolutionalized how I sew every day!

Bonnie introduced me to leaders and enders with her cheddar bowtie chellenge! It gave me the push to cut up all my old old old scraps and neutrals into bow tie sets. I can sew up to ten or more bowtie blocks in an hour of working on another project. Now when my scrap bowl from a project gets filled I cut more sets! I have more then 200 finished!Colleen YLewisville, NC

Discovering the Leaders and Enders way of sewing was the biggest lightbulb moment in my entire quilting career. It saves thread, time, and sanity. When my friends complain about how thread is everywhere in their studios I just smile because sewing the L/E way means almost NO thread on the floor, in your chair wheels, or stuck in the vacuum cleaner. Try it, it will make you so much more productive.Chris BSan Diego, CA

Bonnie has taught me more than any other quilter. With quilt cam, free mystery quilts, and books, the instructions are always amazing. Therefore, I do not hesitate to invest my time and money in a Bonnie Hunter project.♥ Love Me Some Bonnie Crystal M.Perry, GA.

The Leader/Ender system is fantastic - it "leads" you to finish up more projects and you "end" up whittling down that fabric stash at the same time - a perfect excuse for buying more. Bonnie's thought of it all!! Thanks, Bonnie!!

"Easy Street" was my first Bonnie Hunter quilt and my first mystery quilt. I was a little nervous about taking on such a big project and not knowing if I could complete a quilt with so many pieces..... it scared me. Bonnie's clear step by step instructions on each unit helped me get over that fear! Thank you Bonnie!!!!

Bonnie,To say that you have transformed the way I quilt would be an understatement. From your scrap organization system to your Leaders & Enders sewing you have given us all the ability to be more productive in our quilting. Your Leaders & Enders system is so easy and it lets you piece two quilts at the same time. No intense thinking involved, just shove that next set under the foot and go. No stuck fabric under the feed dogs and no big clumps of thread on a small piece of fabric! You've taken us into the 21st century with machine's a humming. Thanks for helping me and my 77 year old mother be more productive quilters. Shelia ChandlerGreenville, SC

"Leaders and enders" were a were a complete new concept for me. I hadn't even heard of it until I learned about Bonnie's way of sewing! It was a REVOLUTION!!!!!And now I'm always using leaders and enders and look how many more quilts are made in the process...... Just love it!!!!Thanks to Bonnie!!Ria V., Ommen, the Netherlands

Before Bonnie, I didn't quilt. I dabbled. I'd get out my dusty machine and sew a few pieces of fabric together, get bored and quit. When I was introduced to the Bonnie way of sewing, it changed my life. I now pop out quilts at 1 to 2 a month. I recently added leaders and enders and my productivity (and enjoyment) increased even more. Bonnie has changed the way I think about quilting and has helped me create a passion that I hope never ends! Kristy G, Boise Idaho

leaders/enders have become an important part of my quiltmaking. Rather than a scrap of fabric with a tangle of threads I can have the beginnings of many quilts. I don't even have to plan ahead what the leaders/enders will be, just choose squares, rectangles or triangles and feed them through at the beginning and end of a line of sewing and before I know it I have a box full ready to be another wonderful quilt. No pain ( or waste) but lots of gain!

I always kept a little piece of fabric near my machine to start and end. I'd toss it when it got too much thread on it. Now I have "leaders and enders" by my machine and have another quilt almost finished. Great idea! Bonnie L, Mission Viejo, CA

Bonnie's Leader and Ender system has revolutionized the way I sew. Now, I always have a "bonus" quilt going on while I am working on any project. Before I know it, I have enough blocks to put together a new quilt. Julie StewartValley, Alabama

History of patchwork is "waste not", Bonnie's tips using Leaders & Enders saves thread and our precious scraps are turned into beautiful quilts using her patterns. Thanks Bonnie for all you do for the quilting community. Annette P....Melbourne, Australia

Bonnie’s leader/ender system generates the results I was looking for in my quilting. Bonnie’s use of tools and her knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly style inspires confidence in her students. She shows us how to use tools to improve efficiency in cutting so the leader/ender system is simple and easy to use. Bonnie is a “game changer” in the quilting world. Janet BSmyrna, GA

I used to be a matchy, matchy person but with Bonnie's urging I have become a true scrappy, scrappy person. I also just started to the the Leader Ender process but it goes fast and it's like a new quilt without all the work. Magical.

Before I learned about leaders and enders from Bonnie, I used small scraps of fabric as "spiders" for starting and ending seams and I tossed them when they were full of thread. Now there are no more spiders! While working on one project, I use the leader/ender system to make units for another project and there's no wasted fabric, thread, or time. I love leaders and enders!

Newcomers and "Bonnie-fied" quilters alike will rejoice at the publication of Bonnie Hunter's new collection of patterns. She creates quilts that look complex, but the secret is revealed in her clear instructions--the scrappy blocks are easy to piece.

I have been a convert to Bonnie's Leader/Ender method for years. It has made me the envy of all my quilty friends because I'm able to accomplish more in the same amount of time. I now keep a stash of the different sizes Bonnie likes so they're ready to go when I need them. It's a great use of leftover fabric to make beautiful quilts while keeping the excess out of our landfills. Thank you Bonnie for sharing your wisdom and your energy. I'm always excited to see your annual mystery and new books. I anxiously await the next one.

Bonnie has shown us how to multi-task in quilting by the Leader Ender method which helps us turn out more of her beautiful quilts faster. You find you accomplish & learn more in your quilting abilities with Bonnie's clear precise teaching.

I have been using the Scrap User System and Leader and Enders System by Bonnie Hunter ever since I too my first class from Bonnie. Now I am hooked I have worked on three quilts at one time not even knowing how quick and organized one can stay on task. Before you know it three different quilt blocks get them into three different quilts, and off to the next quilt adventure. I am fortunate to take another class from Bonnie in a couple of weeks, I can't wait. Thanks Bonnie for all you do for us and for Quilt-Cam. Member I'd the Leader and Ender Nation. MiBelia M., Weslaco, Tx

Bonnie's method of Leaders and Enders has really encouraged me to add "one more Quiltville project" to my sewing table! The result is I save time and thread and am able to finish more quilts while challenging myself to keep up with another project!

I am an art quilter and really did not like any scrap quilts. Actually thought they were mostly ugly! After hearing Bonnie speak at the Ann Arbor Quilt guild in November 2012, I really liked how in most of her quilts she used one color to unify all of the scraps. So, I started to cut my scraps into usable strips, squares and bricks. I work, so it has taken me over a year to get down to my last tub of scraps but I have cut scraps for 10 or 15 minutes almost every day. I started cutting for a specific quilt and then I was completely taken over by the many, many free scrap patterns on Bonnies web site. I am piecing a quilt for my Son and DIL's wedding and have completed all of the four patches for another quilt while piecing this one. All of my quilting friends are quite surprised I am so into scraps. I still am an art quilter at heart but I enjoy doing the scrap quilts as they are pretty mindless and keep me in the sewing room if only for a few minutes each day. This has really sparked my creativity in the sewing room including the art quilts! I honestly can't wait for the new book!

I love Bonnie's "leader/ender" technique as for me it is another awesome cost saver. It saves my thread and also saves my time as I get to essentially create that second project at the same time. I work full time, so being able to accomplish so much more in the same amount of time is AMAZING!!! Thanks Bonnie....you are my hero!

Bonnie Hunter has taught me how useful Leaders and Enders can make my quilting life. I am not only being more efficient with my thread, but also making my quilt scraps into beautiful scrappy projects while making another project at the same time. Leaders and Enders has taught me to be so much more resourceful. Sharon M.Maryland Heights MO

I love the idea of using all the fabric that you can squeeze out of a yard and leaders and enders will do just that. It also helps you get more organized with different size and color of fabric ready to grab and go.

Bonnie's Scrap System, Leaders & Enders technique, and love of the quilters make all of Bonnie's teachings and publications a "must have" "must see" "must do" for all of us that love our scraps.Bonnie is infectious, and once you are exposed, your bound to utilize and spread this wonderful creative spirit that she has stired u p in us. I can't get enough.

I can't sew a seam without a leader/ender on it! It's such a great habit now! I love when the pile of them gets big enough to put them on the design wall and start playing! It's so much fun to have a bonus quilt move right along as you work on your other projects! That's like magic! I love that! :o)Regan M., Waterford, ME

the biggest benefit of leaders/enders for me is that less thread goes into the trash....having a second project in progress--whatever it might be--gets the max out of any spool, a noticeable difference to me....if you don't leader/ender you must!

Then I read her books.......now I'm a believer! Bonnie Hunter has revolutionized my way of making quilts with her scrap user's system. The instructions in her books are very easy to follow and will reward you with a beautiful work of art! Kevin H., Winfield, MO

With money tight these days, Bonnie Hunter has inspired in many the desire to continue quilting by using up scraps, re-purposing used clothing, sharing ideas & encouraging one another to try new techniques. Having used my scraps & re-purposing clothing for many years I was inspired even more by Bonnie's followers to continue to create for the love of it. Her scrap user's system has made me sort my scraps in a whole new manner. In these days of trying to make things stretch and watching how we spend our hard earned money it's wonderful to be inspired to continue what we love to do in a more economical & creative way. Amy B., Glenwood, UT.

I have been lucky enough to be able to attend a Bonnie Hunter class, and have been a long time fan of Quiltville, and the methods that she teaches and shares on her blog have altered the way I quilt, forever! Using "Leaders and Enders" is a great way to make bonus units to be used in either other portions of the quilt, or a completely different quilt altogether, and it saves thread too!I am a convert for life!

Love scrap quilts but not dealing with scraps. That is until I found Bonnie's Scrap User Method via her blog and first book. WHAT A JOY to finally have an easy straight forward method of tackling my wild scraps. Have not heard of or seen anything like it. Thanks Bonnie, you are the best.Julie VMaryville TN

I'm a Leader and Ender convert - no more thread bunnies for me! I was looking for a way to use my scraps and be able to make scrap quilts in a way that would not drive me crazy. Bonnie's method was just the ticket!

2 for the price of 1!Who can resist that slogan?With Leaders and Enders quilters systematically use up their scraps, creating a second quilt while working on the main project.It's a brilliant idea. Bonnie is brilliant. I'm hooked!Marilyn R., The Netherlands.

3 leafbags full of scraps I have finally broken down and cut squares, strips and triangles and am placing them with your free patterns printed from on line to put into about 5 quilts that I have in mind. Bonnie, you give a quilter incentive to say its okay to save your crumbs and scraps, there can be a quilt made out of them, Don't through them out use them!!

I started reading Quiltville before there was Facebook (at least for me). Bonnie introduced new concepts, including shopping for men's shirts at the thrift store to use as quilt fabric. But the major lightbulb moment wqas the introduction of the Leader and Ender system. Not only does this speed up quilt production, I found it prevents loss of precious quilt fabric as my machine sometimes seemed to inhale the fabric through the hole in the throat plate.

When every scrap of fabric is precious using Bonnie's scrap user system to make quilts has been a revalation, I always used a scrap of fabric to save thread but when I discovered leaders and Enders it was a light bulb moment! Not only do I save thread I get two quilts at a time. I'm making more quilts in less time and enjoying my precious quilting time even more. Thanks Bonnie!Beverley HKapiti, New Zealand

I always used a scrap of fabric for my ending bit, now I use pieces for another block or another quilt leader ender fashion. LOVE IT!!!! Feel like I'm getting a quicker start on another quilt this way. Thanks very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!Roberta MStittville, NY

I learned and became addicted to the leader ender method after watching Bonnie's quilt cams and purchasing the Leader Ender book. Since I am no longer dealing with messy threads, my sewing has neatened up and production has increased. Bonnie's patterns are terrific, which makes my quilting experience a pleasure Pat M in MA

I first learned of Bonnie's leader/ender method in the Oklahoma Backroads class in Pigeon Forge. Since then I am sure I have saved countless inches of thread waste. I have used this method to effortlessly move forward on several long term projects while creating my current one. I completed much of my Orca Bay ufo as a leader/ender for Easy Street. It is exciting to be able to create and finish two beautiful projects almost simultaneously!

Leaders - Enders! Engine - Cabboose! One of the same to me. The engine/leader drives you, but the cargo in the middle is quilt, after quilt, after quilt. And the End/caboose? Well done. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

Leaders and enders...who wouldathunk?This technique it did bite off more than a chunkStitching and piecing, less scraps...what a hoot!With the end result being two quilts ta'boot!Bonnie is my hero, her scrap system does ruleRotary cutter and ruler, sewing machine and spoolFrom her I have learned how to process that stashUse up those scraps and the time it does slash!Thank you dear Bonnie for teaching me howUsing leaders and enders on all projects NOW!Sue V.Sandwich, IL

Leaders and Enders was such a great way to keep the thread nests from forming so I couldn't wait to try it. At first I loved the idea of using leftover bits of trimmings and sewing them up to make something extra and then I decided to work on a whole other quilt on purpose, a la Bonnie. It's like getting two projects done in the time of one!

With Leaders and Enders, sure you use up more scraps, use less thread and get an extra quilt while working on others. But the best thing is that, because you have been working on other projects and not thinking much about your Leader and Enders project, you end up with a wonderful surprise quilt, especially when you use the leftover bits of your favorite fabrics.

As I worked on one quilt my friends were amazed to see my leaders and enders turn into blocks for another quilt. I am using the scrap savers methods and saving and using small bits of fabric and turning out LOTS of quilts. I quilted with an 84 year old quilter and she was so excited about the book I bought her a copy. She's making Rick Rack Nines and loving it! Nola H Bloomington, IN

My Leaders & Enders are two stacks of lights and darks squares that I keep ever-ready right beside my machine. As I sew Bonnie's mystery quilt, I use those squares to build "twosies," and then four patches. Soon I have a whole second quilt and I've saved time and thread to boot! I made my Patches & Pinwheels just this way from Bonnie's free pattern. Thank you Bonnie for taking me from being a wannabe quilter to being a quiltmaker!Vic C-P from Gilmanton Iron Works NH

Bonnie "invention" of Leaders and Enders rather than "sew and cut" is an improvement comparable to using a rotary cutter to scissors. Henry Ford would have been impressed with this method of mass production. Pauline K. Camp Wood, Tx

Until "discovering" Bonnie, all my quilts were planned, planned, planned. After squinting, flinching & actually forcing myself to mix fabrics from novelty, reproduction, 30"s, etc all in one quilt just because they happen to be the same color, I'm hooked. The "throw in the kitchen sink" quilts I've made following Bonnie's guidance are my all-time favorites!! Thanks Bonnie for freeing up my quilting & multiplying the fun!!Lisa Franklin from DeRidder, LA (lisafranklin2004@earthlink.net)